Results: For Argyll Awards 2009

Most of Argyll manifested itself in the finalists of this year’s For Argyll Awards. There were:

• the islands of Easdale, Islay, Jura, Lismore, Mull and Seil
• the territories of Cowal, Helensburgh and Lomond, Kintyre, Lorn and Mid Argyll
• the major towns of Campbeltown, Dunoon, Helensburgh, Lochgilphead and Oban
• the villages of Arrochar, Bowmore, Carradale, Inveraray, Lochgoilhead, Succoth, Tarbet and Taynuilt
• the cultural fabric of ceilidhs, Gaelic, history, heritage, theatre, newspapers, traditional music, pipe bands, pop music, shipping and whisky
• the use of natural resources of birds, land, water and slate
• the initiatives of communities from the three villages of Arrochar, Succoth and Tarbet coming together to build a common hall, to all the generations in Argyll’s largest town of Helensburgh being scooped into Phil Worms’ massive achievement of a community ‘live aid’ recording of David Bowie’s Heroes
• the physical activities of adventures, cycling, half marathons, runs and triathlons
• the events of concerts, festivals, the National Mod, parades and performances
• the foundations of the future from the use of the internet, to renewable energy to transport.

Argyll leaves you breathless but it tends to keep its jewels in the bank – and we’ll come to the Bank shortly.

The ‘For Argyll’ Award 2009

This first For Argyll special award, given in recognition of a signal positive contribution to Argyll goes to:

• The new Board of the Mid Argyll Swimming Pool (MACEL)

This award is given for taking the initiative to save a crucial community facility from closure; for response to challenge with initiative and inventiveness; for a commitment to serious, long term effort; for well organised and mutually respectful teamwork; for galvanising a community into concerted action; and for determination to see right done.

For Argyll’s ambition is to be in a position next year to see Argyll & Bute’s own local authority receive this award for the greatest positive change to corporate culture. The capacity for change is there. We hope and believe that the will is also there.

The ‘Not For Argyll’ Award 2009

This first ‘Not For Argyll’ special award is shared equally between two shining examples of a total lack of corporate social responsibility. In chronological order of irresponsible action, it goes to:

• Clydeport – and to the hands of Margaret Mackay, its Managing Director under parent company Peel Ports.
• Bank of Scotland – and to the hands of Susan Rice, Managing Director of parent company, Lloyd’s Banking Group’s Scottish Operations.

The award to Clydeport is given for a Stalinist disregard for corporate social responsibility in failing to make reference in any way, at any time, to the local community on the shores of Loch Striven before sending in six Maersk containerships on long term lay up; for choosing to position the raft of laid up ships literally on the doorstep of the small community when several safe and appropriate alternative anchorages were available; and for riding roughshod – with unparallelled rudeness – over approaches from elected political representatives at all levels from local Councillors to Government Ministers.

The award to Bank of Scotland is given for a short-termist perspective on corporate social responsibility in putting a  modest cost saving above the interests of the business community of an entire island – Islay; for making this explicit in the decision to remove the Bank’s Business Manager from the island;  for replacing this service with a Direct Banking ‘unservice’ through a remote east coast and metropolitan  Call Centre in Edinburgh; for commercial stupidity in failing to recognise not only the current business strengths in Islay but its powerful commercial potential in renewable energy generation; and for corporate inflexibility in refusing to consider the return of this very necessary service to an energetic offshore island.

It is more than likely that each of the recipients of this joint award will come to regret their decision as negative consequences of their actions, which will be appropriatey pursued, make their way to the surface.

The Winners: For Argyll Awards 2009

• Best Achievement for Argyll: Eilidh Steel with fellow musician Joy Dunlop a close second.
• Best Tourism Initiative: Jura Passenger Ferry, with Fiddle Folk / Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop a close second.
• Best Environmental Initiative: Islay Energy Trust – way out in front from a early stage, with Seil Community Garden Project in second.
• Best Community Initiative: Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop, with the Finlaggan Centre development on Islay a close second.
• Best Homecoming Event, Joint winners: St Columba Ceilidh Trail and the Islay Festival & Homecoming Parade in a thrilling last hours dead heat and with Inveraray’s Spirit of the West Festival in second.
• Best Major Event: Royal National Mod Oban 2009, a standout winner with the Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon and 10k Run in second.
• Best Community Event: Mull of Kintyre Half Marathon and 10k Run, with the Meur Chruachain pre-Mod Ceilidh a close second.
• Best Arts Programme: Fiddle Folk / Lochgoilhead Fiddle Workshop a runaway winner with the Meur Chruachain Summer & Winter Ceilidhs in second.
• Best Activity Website: Islay Wilderness Guide, ahead of Islay Shipping Blog in close pursuit.
• Best Wildlife Website: Mull Eagle Watch, a long way ahead, with Islay Birds a good second.
• Best Community Website: The Carradale Goat, with a very close dead heat for second between Arrochar and Tarbet and the Kintyre Forum.
• Best Local Newspaper: Oban Times, a flyaway winner with the Ileach a good second.

Stats and stuff

All finalists were strongly supported in very heavy voting where one person could vote only once for one candidate on one category. There was a gap of only 206 votes between the lowest and the highest scoring categories.

• The highest scoring category was Best Achievement for Argyll.
• The lowest scoring category, by the modest margin given above, was Best Activity Website.

The finalist receiving the highest scoring vote across all categories was the Royal National Mod, taking this accolade by a single vote from The Oban Times with whom the lead was shared until the last ninety minutes of the contest.

By the way, it was very noticeable just how sussed Argyll has become with a strategic use of the Internet. We were delighted to see how many candidates were using Twitter, Facebook and affinity websites to strengthen their campaigns. Respect.

Thank You

Everyone – from those whose work for Argyll generated their nominations, to whose who made the nominations, to the thousands who voted for the finalists they wanted to see win, has made a real contribution to this continuing initiative in drawing attention to the reality of Argyll.Thank you.

Now please find some time in what remains of the holiday period to visit the websites, not only of the winners but of all of the finalists. They all reward attention.